Indians' Chih-Wei Hu: Dealt to Cleveland

Rotowire
Nov 19, 2018

Hu was traded to the Indians from the Rays in exchange for infielder Gionti Turner on Monday.

The 25-year-old spent much of the season with the Rays' Triple-A affiliate, producing a 4.66 ERA and a 92:28 K:BB in 102 innings split between 19 starts and five relief appearances. He also has 23 innings of major-league experience under his belt from the past two seasons, allowing nine runs with a 21:7 K:BB in that span. Hu figures to be in the mix for a bullpen spot with his new club, though he does have an option remaining if Cleveland bolsters its bullpen more with veteran arms.

Indians' Max Moroff: Sent to Indians

Rotowire
4D ago

The Pirates traded Moroff and Jordan Luplow to the Indians on Wednesday in exchange for Erik Gonzalez, Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza.

Moroff spent most of the 2018 campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis, hitting .223/.334/.393 with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 74 games. He had a couple stints with the Pirates' big-league club but failed to cement any sort of significant role with the team, instead serving as organizational depth around the infield. Expect to see the 25-year-old utilized in the same manner with Cleveland in 2019.

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Indians' Jordan Luplow: Dealt to Cleveland

Rotowire
4D ago

Luplow (abdomen) was traded to Cleveland from Pittsburgh on Wednesday along with Max Moroff in exchange for Erik Gonzalez, Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza.

Luplow played in 37 games at the big-league level this past season, slashing .185/.272/.359 with three home runs, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 103 plate appearances. The 25-year-old required an appendectomy procedure in late September but is likely back to 100 percent already, so there should be no cause for concern regarding his status entering spring training. Luplow will get a chance to crack the Indians' Opening Day roster, though he could wind up spending a majority of his time in the minors for the third straight year after debuting for the Pirates in 2017.

Indians' Brandon Barnes: Removed from 40-man roster

Rotowire
18D ago

Barnes was sent outright to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

Barnes finished the 2018 campaign with the big-league squad but has since been bumped off the 40-man roster. Through 19 games for Cleveland last season, he went 5-for-19 with a home run, two RBI and two walks.

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Indians' Leonys Martin: Inks one-year deal with Cleveland

Rotowire
19D ago

Martin (illness) signed a non-guaranteed one-year, $3 million contract for 2019 with Cleveland on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

This deal will avoid arbitration for Martin after the outfielder was sidelined for the last seven weeks of the season due to a serious bacterial infection that caused him to spend some time in the hospital. That ailment occurred just a week after the Indians traded for Martin from Detroit, so he only played in 84 games in 2018. He wound up slashing .255/.323/.425 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and seven stolen bases, and will have a chance to lock down the starting spot in center field come spring training.

Indians' Danny Salazar: Hopes to resume throwing in November

Rotowire
Oct 10, 2018

Salazar (shoulder) may be able to resume throwing next month and is expected to build his arm back up as a starting pitcher, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

According to president Chris Antonetti, Salazar could be utilized as a reliever next year depending on roster needs. Since he's yet to begin throwing after undergoing shoulder surgery in early July, it's too early to project his role on the 2019 squad, though more should be known once the Indians are able to evaluate his progress in the coming months.